Ukraine Military History

Samuel Cook, Rob Lee
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Ukraine Military History is a podcast about how wars are actually fought, and won. Co-hosts Rob Lee and Dmytro Putiata — both Marines and respected military analysts — break down the war in Ukraine in the operational detail headlines miss: drone warfare, force structure, and what's really happening along the front. Host Samuel Cook, who taught Russian military history at West Point, widens the lens to the campaigns and doctrines that shaped modern war and still echo on today's battlefield. Produced by the Borderlands Foundation, the show preserves and teaches the hard-won lessons of Ukraine's

Episodes

  1. Ep 5 – Rob Lee: Back from the Front — Ukraine Closes the Deep-Strike Gap (June 2026)

    2d ago

    Ep 5 – Rob Lee: Back from the Front — Ukraine Closes the Deep-Strike Gap (June 2026)

    Rob Lee is back in Kyiv after another round of frontline visits — from Zaporizhzhia to Donetsk to Kharkiv — talking directly with frontline commanders and the R&D teams building the war's newest capabilities. In this episode Sam Cook stands in for Dmytro Putiata and interviews Rob on what's actually changed as of early June 2026. The headline shift: deep strike is no longer Russia's game. Ukraine is now hitting at operational depth too — with cheap, scalable drones, corps-level strike assets like Hornets, and a brigade-to-corps reform that's giving commanders real ownership of their battlespace. Rob walks through where the front is genuinely different from a year ago, where it's still grinding (Kostiantynivka, the Kramatorsk–Sloviansk line), and why he wouldn't be surprised to see successful Ukrainian armor assaults this year. A granular, on-the-ground read from the analyst with the access to get it. Chapters: 00:00 Intro — who Rob is and this June trip 04:58 The front as of early June 2026 06:03 Why map movements mislead — reading the front 08:19 What he saw: Zaporizhzhia to Donetsk to Kharkiv 09:00 Is Russia slowing? Manpower and priorities 11:43 Corps get Hornets — striking deeper behind the line 12:51 Brigade-to-corps reform: commanders own the battlespace 15:03 Dobropillia: redeployments and Rubicon 15:55 The cheap-drone revolution — $4,000 recon, Mavic + Starlink 18:00 Counter-Shahed and the interceptor problem 20:31 Starlink on UGVs — why it's indispensable 21:52 Europe and the US stepping up production 24:46 Corps UAS regiments and reduced vulnerability 26:15 Where it's still hard: Kostiantynivka 26:47 Kramatorsk–Sloviansk and the high-ground threat 32:23 UGVs: the gas-powered casevac "mule" 33:07 Only 20% of the UGVs they need 33:48 AI targeting and camera-guided turrets 35:26 A WWI analogy for this moment 36:06 Why Ukrainian armor assaults may return (Zabrodsky callback) 37:31 Operational depth: where Ukraine now has the edge 38:21 FP-2s and the middle-strike payload gap 39:55 1,000+ drones a night — the deep-strike picture 40:34 Deep strike is no longer Russia's game 41:23 Putin doubling down, and why the war turned 42:45 Drones = 80%+ of casualties now 43:33 Recap of the trends 46:40 Wrap-up Rob Lee is a senior fellow at FPRI and a former US Marine. Host Samuel Cook is the founder of the Ukraine Military History Institute and a former US Army officer who taught Russian history at West Point. 🎧 Listen & subscribe: All episodes: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.org/ Apple: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/d6Vm9D Spotify: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/bEE3Y9 Amazon: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/hun4CH Castbox: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/fwdd5A ▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineMilitaryHistory 📩 Two Marines (Rob & Dmytro): https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/wt9OCK Produced by the Borderlands Foundation. #Ukraine #UkraineWar #RobLee #DroneWarfare #MilitaryAnalysis

    59 min
  2. Ep 4 –The Kill Zone: Drone Warfare & Brigade Autonomy – Rob Lee & Dmytro Putiata (Part 2)

    5d ago

    Ep 4 –The Kill Zone: Drone Warfare & Brigade Autonomy – Rob Lee & Dmytro Putiata (Part 2)

    In this second installment of *The First Draft of History*, analysts Rob Lee and Dmytro Putiata pick up where they left off to tackle one of the most defining features of the current war in Ukraine: the kill zone. Once just a couple kilometers deep, this lethal band of contested airspace and ground has expanded dramatically—now stretching 15, 20, or more kilometers along the front lines. Rob and Dmytro break down what the kill zone actually means in practice, how drones have transformed it, and why both Russia and Ukraine are scrambling to adapt to this rapidly evolving battlefield reality. The conversation digs into the tactical and structural shifts reshaping the fight, from drones serving as force multipliers to the emerging cat-and-mouse dynamic of "hunting the hunters." The hosts explore the growing importance of deep strike and middle strike capabilities, the targeting of Russia's rear systems, and the persistent challenge of thin, overstretched lines that conceal hidden vulnerabilities on both sides. A centerpiece of the episode is a hard look back at the Dobropillia breakthrough—August's deepest scare for Ukraine—where Russian infiltration tested the defense in alarming ways. Rob and Dmytro examine how Ukraine responded, the costly toll the operation took on Russian forces, and the broader lessons learned, including the dangers of "lying upward" through the chain of command and the ever-present manpower equation. Looking ahead, the discussion weighs the ongoing debate between brigade and division structures, the question of brigade autonomy, and what all these adaptations mean for a possible return to maneuver warfare. Filmed in Kyiv as of May 2026 by two analysts who regularly visit the front lines, this episode offers a clear-eyed, ground-level assessment of where the war stands—and why 2026 may be looking better for Ukraine than many expected. Be sure to catch part one for the full picture. Timestamps: 0:00–The Kill Zone Defined 4:45–Concept Without Implementation 9:14–Fifteen Kilometers and Growing 14:11–Drones as Force Multipliers 17:44–Hunting the Hunters 24:46–Dobropillia: August's Deepest Scare 28:30–Russia's Costly Infiltration 32:08–The Cost of Lying Upward 37:34–The Manpower Equation 42:43–Brigades Versus Divisions 47:26–Deep Strike and Middle Strike 52:16–Striking the Rear Systems 57:19–Thin Lines, Hidden Weaknesses 1:01:46–Toward Maneuver Once Again

    1h 18m
  3. Ep 3 – Why History Wins Wars: Gen. Zabrodskyi on Blitzkrieg & Mission Command

    Jun 16

    Ep 3 – Why History Wins Wars: Gen. Zabrodskyi on Blitzkrieg & Mission Command

    This episode began with a question from a Ukrainian brigade: how can military history help us fight better right now? Samuel Cook sits down with Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zabrodskyi, Hero of Ukraine, to answer it. They explore military history as a tool for creative thinking under fire, why Blitzkrieg was "a product, not a process," how mission command and decisions made at the right level produce battlefield results, and how the drone became a primary weapon at platoon level — only the beginning, in Zabrodskyi's words. In this episode: A brigade's question: history as a warfighting tool- Blitzkrieg as a product of 25 years of doctrineMission command and decision-making at the right levelThe drone as a platoon-level primary weapon🎧 Listen & subscribe: 'All episodes: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.org/▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineMilitaryHistory📩 Two Marines (Rob & Dmytro): https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/wt9OCKCreated by the Borderlands Foundation.#Ukraine #UkraineWar #DroneWarfare #MilitaryHistory #RobLee #Zabrodskiy

    1h 51m
  4. Ep 2 – Russia's Next Move: The Front Line Right Now — Rob Lee & Dmytro Putiata (Pt 1)

    Jun 11

    Ep 2 – Russia's Next Move: The Front Line Right Now — Rob Lee & Dmytro Putiata (Pt 1)

    Rob Lee and Dmytro Putiata break down the war in Ukraine as it stands right now: a front line that has stabilized but stays fragile, and where Russia is putting its weight next. In Part 1 they get into Russian force redeployments across the Dobropillia, Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka directions, Ukraine's deepening campaign against Russian operational depth — the "middle strikes" on logistics and rear areas — and the renewed threat to the energy grid heading into winter. A clear-eyed, granular read from two Marines who track this war daily. The state of the front: stabilized but fragile. Russian redeployments – Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivka. Middle strikes and the war on operational depth. Energy-grid risk heading into winter.In this episode:0:00 - June 2026 Battlefield Overview4:46 - Russia's Infiltration Revolution9:30 - Weather's Strategic Impact13:48 - Drone Lines and Detection18:57 - Ukraine's Counter-Infiltration Response23:34 - Middle Strike Operations Emerge27:45 - Rubicon's Elite Drone Force33:01 - Scaling Quality vs Quantity37:48 - Maneuver Brigade Challenges42:34 - Electronic Warfare Evolution47:17 - Logistics Under Fire53:15 - Unmanned Systems Integration56:39 - Tactical Innovation Centers1:01:23 - Force Structure Reforms1:05:50 - Frontline Stabilization Progress1:10:49 - Lessons From Adaptation1:15:38 - Ukraine's Path ForwardRob Lee is a senior fellow at FPRI and a former US Marine. Dmytro Putiata is a Ukrainian Marine veteran and drone-warfare expert. Part 1 of a two-part conversation.🎧 Listen & subscribe: 'All episodes: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.org/Apple - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/d6Vm9DSpotify - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/bEE3Y9Amazon - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/hun4CHCastbox - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/fwdd5A▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineMilitaryHistory📩 Two Marines (Rob & Dmytro): https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/wt9OCKCreated by the Borderlands Foundation.#Ukraine #UkraineWar #DroneWarfare #MilitaryHistory #RobLee

    1h 32m
  5. Ep 1 – Welcome to Ukraine Military History — Sam Cook & Rob Lee

    Jun 11

    Ep 1 – Welcome to Ukraine Military History — Sam Cook & Rob Lee

    Sam Cook, founder and executive director of the Ukraine Military History Institute, launches the inaugural episode of the Ukraine Military History Podcast. A former US Army officer and West Point history instructor, Sam shares his deep passion for military history and his personal commitment to Ukraine, where he has lived for eight years. He explains how this podcast is a culmination of his life's work, aimed at using military history for nation-building and fostering a strong national identity in his adopted home, a mission that predates Ukraine's recent global prominence. For this foundational first episode, Sam sits down with Rob Lee, the podcast's editor-at-large and co-host. Rob is introduced as a highly respected military analyst, particularly known for his on-the-ground tactical insights into the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Together, Sam and Rob delve into the "big idea" behind the podcast, outlining their shared goals, the intended structure of future episodes, and the diverse themes they plan to explore. Listeners will get an insider's view into the vision driving this ambitious project. The episode also touches upon the vital role of the Borderlands Foundation, established by Sam, which serves as the funding source for the Ukraine Military History Institute. The Institute's core mission, highlighted early in the episode, is to translate Ukraine's rich military history from Ukrainian into English, making it accessible for a global audience of military officers, historians, and professionals. This podcast aims to bridge a critical knowledge gap, ensuring Ukraine's heroes are remembered and its strategic lessons are understood worldwide. 0:00 - Welcome to Ukraine Military History 5:23 - Introducing the Vision and Mission 8:11 - Meeting Rob Lee the Analyst 12:15 - Tracking the Russian Buildup 16:22 - Open Source Intelligence Revolution 20:26 - Reading the Warning Signs 24:41 - Putin's Strategic Miscalculation 28:26 - Tactical Failures and Adaptations 32:47 - Innovation on the Battlefield 36:30 - Ukraine's Resilience Under Fire 40:58 - Global Stakes and Implications 44:55 - Learning Military Lessons 49:10 - Partnership with Ukrainian Historians 53:22 - Future Episodes and Case Studies 57:08 - Building Ukraine's Military Legacy 🎧 Listen & subscribe: 'All episodes: https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.org/Apple - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/d6Vm9DSpotify - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/bEE3Y9Amazon - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/hun4CHCastbox - https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/fwdd5A▶ Youtube.com/@UkraineMilitaryHistory 📩 Two Marines (Rob & Dmytro): https://ukrainemilitaryhistory.s.gy/wt9OCKCreated by the Borderlands Foundation.#Ukraine #UkraineWar #DroneWarfare #MilitaryHistory #RobLee

    1h 13m
  • 5 Episodes

About

Ukraine Military History is a podcast about how wars are actually fought, and won. Co-hosts Rob Lee and Dmytro Putiata — both Marines and respected military analysts — break down the war in Ukraine in the operational detail headlines miss: drone warfare, force structure, and what's really happening along the front. Host Samuel Cook, who taught Russian military history at West Point, widens the lens to the campaigns and doctrines that shaped modern war and still echo on today's battlefield. Produced by the Borderlands Foundation, the show preserves and teaches the hard-won lessons of Ukraine's

Information

  • Creator
    Samuel Cook, Rob Lee
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Samuel Cook, Rob Lee
  • Show Website
    Ukraine Military History

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